Welcome to the next chapter. Just a warning that suicide is talked about in this chapter
"Ok everyone," the Inspector at Edgeburrow station shouted to catch the attention of the Response Unit who had just clocked on for their day shift. "I want to introduce you all to Sergeant Steve Abbott," he continued, gesturing to Steve who stood beside him.
"Hi!" Steve said to murmured welcomes from the officers in front of him.
"Steve is going to be replacing Jake," the Inspector added.
Steve looked at his new colleagues as Jake's name was mentioned, looking for any tell tale sign that might indicate guilt over Jake's current situation. There was nothing. Either someone had a very good poker face or everyone was innocent.
"You go with PC Littmann today," the Inspector ordered Steve. He looked and saw a young woman, mousy hair and very petite. Steve wondered if a gust of wind would blow her over. "She was Jake's partner,".
"Hi," Steve said to his new colleague.
"Hi," replied Lizzie very quietly. So quietly that made it difficult for Steve to hear her over the noise of their departing colleagues. Steve briefly wondered how she kept offenders in line.
"Lead on," Steve gestured with a hand out, letting Lizzie go on ahead of him as they followed the rest of the unit to the car park and their assigned patrol car for the shift. "You wanna drive?" Steve offered.
"No it's ok," Lizzie said as she got in to the passenger seat. Steve took a deep breath before he got in the car. If his partner was going to remain this quiet it was going to be a very long shift.
They drove around the city for a bit before Steve suggested a coffee break. Parking the car in a space on the high street, Steve got out and got the drinks before heading back to the car.
"So how long have you been a copper, Lizzie?" Steve asked before he took a sip of his drink, attempting to break the ice with his partner.
"Not long," she replied.
"How long had been partners with Jake?".
"Not long.".
"What was he like?" Steve prodded. "Did you have a good partnership?".
Lizzie shrugged her shoulders.
This was like pulling teeth, Steve thought to himself with a wry smile.
"What?" Lizzie asked defensively, after she caught Steve smiling to himself.
"Just not used to having such a quiet partner," Steve replied quickly. "My last one had a lot to say for herself,".
"Sorry," apologised Lizzie.
"Don't be," Steve answered. "It makes a nice change being able to get some words in," he added, although after further long periods of silence in the car, He realised he actually preferred the banter he had with Kate. It certainly passed the time during the more boring parts of the job.
"All units," came the voice of a despatcher over Steve and Lizzie's walkie talkies. "Adult female reported on the wrong side of the railings on the bridge over the A63. Assistance requested,".
"Control," said Steve in to his radio. "This is 526. We are two minutes away," he instructed as he started the car engine and put the sirens on. Finally some work to do today.
"Roger 526," control replied back. "Proceed with caution,".
Zipping between cars, Steve put his advanced driving skills to the test as he raced to the lady in peril. His heart raced at the prospect of actually trying to help a member of the public again. It was the reason he had joined the police force in the first place.
Steve and Lizzie were the first to arrive on the scene and not wanting to spook the person in to jumping, Steve pulled the car to a stop at the bridge's edge.
Jumping out the car Steve headed on to the bridge. He was a little way before he realised that his partner wasn't following. "You coming?" he asked as he stopped and turned around. He couldn't help but see that his partner looked uncomfortable.
"Err no," Lizzie said. "I'll stay here and keep the public away,".
"Ok," said Steve before he continued on his way.
"Control," he heard Lizzie say in to her radio. "Sergeant Abbott approaching person in distress,".
Steve approached the woman carefully and as he got closer he could see she really wasn't that old. He wondered what had happened to her for her to take this step. The girl turned at the sound of Steve accidentally kicking a stone as he walked. "Don't come any closer!" she said clearly upset, "or I'll jump,".
"Ok," said Steve as he stopped with his arms out in front of him, palms up. "I'll stop,".
From the other side of the bridge, Steve could see another police car arrive and skid to a halt before two response officers got out and started approaching him. "Stay back," Steve warned them when he saw the girl look at them and thankfully they took heed. "There you go," Steve said to the woman. "It's just you and me now. How about you come back to this side of the railings and we have a little chat?" Steve suggested.
"No," the girl said. "I'm staying here,".
"Ok," Steve replied. "We'll have a little chat whilst you stay where you are. What's your name?" he asked trying to get the woman talking to him. She stared at him like he was mad. "If we're going to chat then I should at least know your name,".
"Jess," the girl eventually revealed.
"Hi Jess. I'm Steve,". Now that introductions were made Steve didn't have a clue what to say next. He had never dealt with a situation like this before. "I don't know what has happened to you Jess but surely this isn't the answer,".
Jess looked away from Steve and down to the road below her before turning back to Steve. "Do you think it will hurt?" She asked.
Steve didn't know how to answer. He went with the truth. "Probably," he said simply. "You won't die, just break lots of your bones. And then the car or lorry runs over you,".
For the first time Jess looked scared. She hadn't thought about this.
"It's not much fun for the witnesses either," Steve added as he thought about the aftermath of Tony Gates' suicide. He and Kate had gone to the pub and got plastered after watching him die. "And don't forget the poor drivers down there going about their normal journeys before you jump. It's not pleasant," Steve continued.
"Can you help me?" Jess asked quietly. "I want to climb back but I seem unable to move,". Steve's talk had completely turned her off ending her life in this manner today.
"Ok," said Steve as he approached Jess cautiously. He got to the railings and offered her his hand. Jess eventually took it and gripped Steve strongly as she tried to climb back over the railings but her foot slipped and she was left dangling from Steve's hand. She screamed, totally petrified as Steve tried hauling her up over the railings by himself. He was very thankful two of his colleagues came up and helped him pull Jess to safety.
"You're safe," Steve kept repeating to Jess as paramedics approached her and wrapped her in a silver tin foil blanket before leading her away.
"Well done, mate," one of Steve's colleagues said as he slapped Steve in the back. His name was Jay and had run over to help him get Jess to safety. "I think a drink is well deserved after that.".
"You coming?" Steve asked Lizzie at the station. They were back in civvies at the end of their shift and the rest of the unit were waiting to celebrate Steve's heroism down at the pub. Steve was on a bit of a high. It felt good to have done something worthwhile again as a police officer. He hadn't felt that way for a bit. Anti-corruption had made him question his career choice towards the end,
"Not tonight," Lizzie replied. She had a frown on her face and a brown envelope in her hands that she had found in her locker when she had opened it.
""You sure?" Steve checked. He didn't want her to feel left out.
"Yes," Lizzie replied. "I'm shattered after that shift. Is work always like this with you?".
"Not always," Steve replied. The two new partners looked at each other. "Well I better not keep everyone waiting," Steve finally said as he made to leave.
"Yeah," replied Lizzie. "Steve?" Steve looked back over his shoulder. "Thanks for being nice today,".
""Isn't that what you were wearing yesterday?" Jay asked Steve as they made their way in to Edgeburrow station for their shift the next day.
Steve gave Jay a cocky grin to confirm Jay's suspicions. They'd had a good time at the pub. Steve was brought lots of drinks and was soon quite merry. His new colleagues told a group of local girls about Steve's good deed and he was soon getting off with one of them and taking her up on her offer of going back to her place. They'd had a nice night together as Steve had got laid again before heading back to work. Although he told himself he was acting a part undercover as Jake had been blackmailed after doing something stupid whilst drunk, it was actually just what Steve wanted as well after helping Jess.
Jay congratulated Steve on his prowess with another slap on the back. "You're gonna fit in really well here," he told Steve.
The two men headed to get changed before making their way to the briefing room before the start of the shifts. Steve looked around but couldn't see Lizzie just yet. Something hadn't felt quite right when he'd said goodbye to her the previous evening.
The arrival of the Inspector stopped his musing before he briefed his team. "I'm afraid PC Littmann won't be on shift today," he informed his unit. "There's no easy way to say this but she took her own life last night,".